Clothes-pounder



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. 8n T. HAMSHAW.

GLOTHES POUNDER.

No. 258,643. Patented May 30, 1882.

WITNESSES INV'EJVTOR S (ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. & T. HAMSHAW.

CLOTHES POUNDER.

No. 258,643. Patented May 80, 1882..

1.1V VEJV'IOR By flfwrn W N PETFRS Pmu: LIIIW C STATES CHARLES HAMSHAVV AND THOMAS CLOTH ES- HAMSHAW, OF HOLDEN, MISSOURI.

POUNDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,643, dated May 30, 1882.

' Application filed March 9, 1882. (Merlot) To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES HAMSHAW and THOMAS HAMSHAW, citizens of the United States, residing at Holden, in the county of Johnson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Founders and we do hereby declare .the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

The object of our invention is the improvement of clothes-pounders in the matter of construetion of air-chamber, valve mechanism, and form of downwardly-projecting beaters,whereby greater simplicity, strength, and durability of the parts and efficiency of operation are'obrained.

It consists in the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation Fig. 3, a bottom plan view, and Fig. at a separate view of handle and a forked plunger attached thereto.

In the said drawings, A represents a conical body, to the lower end of which is attached a cylindrical flaring bottom rim, B, and diaphragm or horizontal partitionO. The rim and said partition may be turned from one piece of metal and the funnel-shaped body Abe soldered thereto.

D is aflat pipe ofchamber,with outer rounded edges extending from partition 0 up through body A.

The partition 0 is provided at its center with elliptical-shaped openingc, connecting the bottom ofthepounder with chamber D. Surround ing said opening is ring E, of less depth than outer rim, B, and radiating from said ring are vanes or rubbers F, which connect said ring with the inner wall of rim B. Ring E is provided with holes g, one in each inclosure formed by two ofthe vanes. These vanes are rounded on their edges, and at their outer ends are of a depth equal to the distance from the edge of the base to the partition 0; but they recede inwardly to the height ofthe central rim.

G is a valve or sucker composed of leather, and attached to the inner side ofchamber D by means of screw-boltf, and thelower portion of said valve is inclosed by ametallic cup, H, all as shown in Fig. 2.

Holes i are formed in the wall of chamber D, opposite the valve, for the admission of air.

J is a handle, to which is attached the forked center piece or plunger, K. This center piece or plunger isflat, and is provided with two arms, l l, with their outer edges rounded to correspond with the form of and to fit tightly within the air-chamber D. Screws m are inserted through both sides of chamber D into center piece, K,to secure these parts rigidly together. The upper portion of center piece, K, extends into or is mortised within thehandle J, as shown in Fig. 2, and is further secured thereto by a screw or screws, 0. The handle is also pro vided with a screw-ring, 10, by which to hang up the pounder when not in use. When in place within the chamber D the arms Zlof plunger K form an air-chamber, L, which arms fit closely to and firmly support the internal sides of chamber D. It will be seen, too, that the plunger is formed to fit snugly down upon and around the top of the valve,where it is held by the nut f.

Hitherto in some forms of pounders the water was sucked up through the clothes and into a chamber above; but in our form of pounder the water is forced down through the clothes, when in operation, as follows: Enough water having been put in the tub to cover theclothes the pounder is pressed downward upon them. At the same time a turn is given to the washer while pressure is beingexerted. As the pounder descends upon the clothes air is forced upward through aperture 0 into air-chamber L, around and over the cup H, and against the valve G, which it closes. This compressed air then reacts as a; cushion upon the water and clothes, which have been slightly drawn upward into the pounder by suction, and the water is forced back with strong pressure through the clothes.

The holes in the innerring, E,'serve to admit and force out the water into the inclosure or chambers formed by the vanes or rubbers F.

Immediately this return pressure of the air in chamber .L is accomplished air rushes in through the valve, suction on clothesis removed, and thus the washer can be quickly and continually raised without the clothes adhering thereto by suction. We do not, however, claim to be the first to devise means by which the air is compressed and made to react upon the water to force the same down upon and through the clothes. The rounded lower edges of the vanes serve a good purpose as rubbers and in forcing the water through the clothes.

By our improvement the air-chamber is easily formed, and both that and the valve mechanism are secured against all danger of breaking or being otherwise damaged. In fact, the entire apparatus is by its construction so strong and well adapted to its purpose that nothing but the roughest usage can damage it. The parts are few and simple, and can be easily taken apart and replaced.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clothcs-pounder provided with an airchamher, in combination with the valve located in and on one side of said chamber, and the forked center piece extending into said chamher and around said valve, substantially as described.

2. In a clothes-pounder, the air-chamber L, in combination with the valve G, located in and on one side of said chamber, and the metallic cup H, inclosing the lower portion of said valve, substantially as described.

3. In aclothes-poun der, theinner rim orring, E, provided with holes in combination with a diaphragm having a central opening, the radial vanes F, with rounded inner edges, the funnel-shaped body A, and flaringlower rim, B, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HAMSHAW. THOMAS HAMSHAW. Witnesses:

EDWIN B. DORMAN, V. G. TAYLOR. 

